Guide for opening cans



April 10, 1956 c. K. BROWN 2,741,395

GUIDE FOR OPENING CANS Filed June 18, 1955 INVENTOR.

a CLIIZEORD K. BROWN AGENT ited States This invention relates to means for opening cans equipped with a tear strip, and has special reference to a guide for the strip and the strip winding-key.

It is Well known that the opening of a tear-stripequipped can has been an annoying problem for many years. Many people have trouble winding the tear strip evenly on the key. Often a person is cut on the sharp edges of the tear strip. Also, a tear strip often breaks off before it has been completely removed and no end of annoyance and difiiculty is presented, especially to a housewife.

There have been many devices made and patented for use in the removing of tear strips, however, none of these devices has provided for all the major needs in tear strip removal. None of these patented devices have gained general acceptance and none has been marketed commercially, apparently.

It is, therefore, one of my principal objects to provide an improved guide for use in tear strip removal with a key which will meet the long felt need to eliminate the common difficulties and annoyances in such removal.

Another object is to provide a device of the character described wherein the key-serves to move'theguide forwardly and also applies pressure downwardly to keep the guide in place and against the can being opened firmly.

Another object is to provide-a tear strip removal guide which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and sell.

Another object is to provide such a device which will insure the smooth winding of the tear strip on the key.

Another object is to provide such a device which will protect the user from cuts-from the tear strip.

Another object is to provide a guide to accommodate varying widths of tear strips.

Another object is to provide a guide device of the character described which is of such construction that it aids in tearing the strip free or loose from the can.

Another object is to provide such a device which has excellent lateral and longitudinal stability.

Another object is to provide such a device which has a cooperative construction and arrangement of spaced side walls and alined inclined slots in said walls which insures the desired operation or the device at all times.

Another object is to provide such a device which is so constructed that thekey, or axis of the core, may move away from the can as'the coil of the tear. strip on the key grows larger.

Another object is to provide such a device which can grip the wound coil of tear strip whereby the guide and coil may be handled together until it is desired to separate them.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will become more apparent as the description proceeds.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing one forrnof my invention in use opening a can.

atent O F 2,741,395 vPatented.A pr. 10, 1.956

Fig. 2 is a fragmental end elevational view of a can showing one of my guides in use.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the device shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an end view of the device shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of another form of my invention which is a simple sheet metal stamping.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing a plastic model of the guide as shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 showing a guide having an adjustable width.

In the drawing, the reference numeral 1 indicates a can having a tear strip 2 defined thereon which is intended to be removed by a key 3. The strip '2 has a free end portion, not shown, but which is conventional, to permit the initial engagement of' the key on the strip so that the rotation of the key will simultaneously tear the strip free and wind the strip in a coil on the. key. All of this detail is well known in the art and requires no other specific description.

The numeral 4 indicates, generally, my strip winding guide which facilitates the removal of the tear strip 2, as-will become apparent.

The guide 4 comprises :a. pair of opposed sidewalls 5-5, the walls being similar to each other as shown, and being spaced apart a distance. slightly greater than the width of a tear strip 2. A-spacer member or membersis employed to join the walls 5-5, and as shown in the form of the invention of Figs. 1-4, the spacer member may comprise a curved wall of substantially inverted U-shape mounted at aninclination between the walls 5-5 whereby an open bottom. area 7 is present between the side walls to permit the tear strip to be picked up and wound on the coil.

Each of the walls 5, -5 is provided-with anupwardly and forwardly inclined slot 8 which extends from. a point adjacent the lower edge 9 of the walls, upwardly and forwardly,.or, in other words, the slots are disposed in opposed alined relation to each; other and serve to receive the key 3, the key extending transversely between the walls 5--5 from one to the other of the slots 8. In Figs. 1 and 3 the slots are shown as being curved slightly, while-in Figs 5 and 6 they are shown as being straight.

One of the side walls 5.5 has a circular opening Ill therethrough at the upper endof its slot 8 which permits the removal of the wound coil of tear strip, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 2.

The devices as shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 7 comprise side walls 5'5' which are similar to each other and are carried in spaced substantially parallel relation to each other by transverse joining members 11-11 at the lower front and rear edges thereof leaving a bottom opening 7 between the members 1111 and the walls 5-5'. The slots 8'-8 are alined with each other and disposed at an upward and forward angle, as are the slots 88, Figs. 1 and 3, the slots 8'8' being open through the upper edge of the walls to permit ready insertion and removal of the key before and'after the coil'is wound.

The device shown in Fig. 5' is a sheet metal stamping made of one piece of material and having substantially right angular bends 12-42 formed between the side walls and'the joining members. This construction is very simple and inexpensive, of course, and the height of the walls provides protection for the user against cuts from the strip during the operation of the guide.

in Fig. 6, the device is shown as being made of plastic and-being similar in appearance to that shown-in Fig. 5. Theplastic device may be either molded or assembled from parts, of course, the structural elements and their characteristics being clearly apparent from the drawings and the above description:

In operation, a' key 3 is inserted through the angularly disposed slots in the side walls so that the key extends transversely between the side walls. The free end of the tear strip (not shown) is bent up, as is conventionally done, to permit the key to be engaged on the strip for winding same into a coil to simultaneously tear the strip loose and coil it for. disposal.

With the key extended through the slots and held at the lower ends of the slots, the key may readily be engaged or started on the tear strip. As soon as the key winds all of the loose or free end of the strip into a coil, further or continued winding of the key applies stress to the strip to break and tear it loose from the can. 7

It is'to be noted that the lower ends of the side walls 5-5 and 55" straddle the strip, see Fig. 2. This feature, in conjunction with the angular slot for the key, aids in the tearing of the strip, for the winding of the key causes a forward and downward stress on the key pressing the key against the inclined forward edges of the slots 8. This pressure causes the forward movement of the guide with the winding of the key and also presses the lower edges 9 of the side walls firmly against the walls of the can 1 on each side of the tear strip 2, firmly holding the walls of the can from distorting while the tear strip is being pulled up and free by the winding of the key. This insures a cleaner, quicker and easier tearing free of the strip to reduce, if not eliminate, strip breakage, and also, holds the guide firmly in its desired guiding position when in operation.

The position, length, and inclination of the slots permits the key to start and remain in the closest possible relation to the can throughout the entire winding operalion so that the axis of the coil is always as close as possible to the can, making for a better leverage in the removal of the strip and the easier removing of the strip, and still, the guide member remains in the same operating position relative to the can and strip throughout the winding operation even as the coil gets larger. The bottom I ends or edges of the walls 5--5 and 5-5' remain in firm engagement with the can walls at all times.

it is to be noted that the bottom edges 9 of the side walls ride closely against the can, and have multiple contacts with the can for stability. 7 The bottom edges 9 are preferably somewhat arcuate to permit the can to be constantly engaged at a point rearwardly of the keys axis, see Figs. 1 and 3, and also at a point forwardly of the keys axis whereby there are at least four points of contact for the guide at all times. Because two of these oints are always rearwardly'of'the keys axis and at least one or two are always forwardly of the keys axis and in spaced relation to each other, the guide is inherently stable in operation.

in Fig. 7 the side walls 5'-5' are shown as being of material having spring qualities and bent or arched int wardly slightly at the center thereof. This arrangement permits the gripping of the coil of tear strip so that the guide and tear strip will remain assembled when the strip breaks free and may be removed when desired for disposal. The coil will harm no one when held in the guide between the side walls, of course, and the guide will not fall loose after the strip is entirely free and require its being picked up separately.

In Fig. 8, a modified form of guide is shown wherein the joining members 16-46 between the side walls 5'-5 (constituting the side-wall joining means) are disposed in a vertical plane, andare V-shaped whereby the spacing between the walls may be adjusted to accommodate varied widths of tear strips by opening or closing the V shape of the end or joining members, the side walls will be moved away or toward each other respectively, permitting the guide to engage the can closely adjacent the opposed longitudinal edges of any width of tear strip for most etiicient operation. Of course, the walls of the device shown in Fig. 8 may still be curved as in Fig. 7 to grip the tear strip coil. As shown in dotted lines at 18, Fig. 7, the joining means for the side-walls may be of inverted V-shape to permit the adjustment of the spacing of the side walls.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim is:

l. In a guide for use when opening a can having a tear strip thereon to be removed by winding same on'a key; a pair of similar side walls, said walls being spaced apart a distance greater than the width of said strip and in substantially parallel relationship to each other, Wall means joining said walls adjacent the front and rear ends thereof leaving an open bottom between said walls so that said walls may straddle said strip, an upwardly and forwardly inclined slot in each of said side walls extending from the lower edges of said side walls, said slots being in alined relation with each other to receive and hold said key transversely between said side walls and being of a width substantially throughout the length thereof only slightly greater than the diameter of the winding key, said side walls having a lower edge providing contact with said can in at least four spaced points, two of said points being forwardly and two being rearwardly of the location of said key in said slots, and said inclined slot serving as a passageway in which said key will be elevated as the size of the coil wound on said key increases, and said key applying forward and downward pressure to said walls to hold same firmly against said can simultaneously with the moving of said guide forwardly as said strip is coiled on said key.

2. A guide for use in removing the tear strip from a can with a winding key comprising, a pair of spaced parallel side walls, means interconnecting said side walls adjacent the forward and rearward ends thereof leaving an open bottom between said walls and said means so that the walls may straddle the tear strip, the bottom edges of said side walls being concavely arcuated to'engage an associated can at the forward and rear ends of such walls, each of said walls having an elongate, forwardly inclined slot therein, said slots being in transverse alignment to receive the winding key transversely through the side walls, each slot being defined by spaced, parallel edge portions of the associated side wall extending from closely adjacent the bottom edge to and intersecting the upper edge thereof with the closed lower ends of the slots being disposed substantially midway between the forward and rearward ends of said walls and with the distance between such edge portions being only slightly greater than the width of the winding key whereby when the key is inserted through the slots and engaged with the tear strip, the guide will be locked to the can.

3. in the guide as defined in claim 2 wherein said means interconnecting said side walls comprises t -shaped joining strips whereby the spacing between the side walls may be varied.

' 4. A guide for use in removing the tear strip from a can with a winding key comprising, a pair of spaced parallel side walls, means joining said side walls adjacent the front and rear ends thereof leaving an open bottom between the walls so that said walls may straddle the tear strip, each of said walls having a forwardly and upwardly inclined slot therein extending from a point closely adjacent the bottom edge of the associated side wall to facilitate initial engagement of the winding key with the tear strip, one of said side walls also having a circular opening therein intersected by the slot in such side wall, and the slot in the other side having an upper portion thereof substantially in transverse alignment with the center of said circular opening whereby the key with the tear strip fully wound thereon may be withdrawn ti rough the circular opening.

A guide for use in removing the tear strip from a can with a winding key comprising, a pair of spaced parallel side walls, means joining said side walls adjacent the front and rear ends thereof leaving open bottom between the walls so that said walls may straddle the tear strip, each of said walls having a forwardly and upwardly inclined elongated slot formed therein extending from a point closely adjacent the bottom edge and rear end of the associated side wall and terminating between the ends thereof to facilitate initial engagement of the winding key with the tear strip and totassure continuous engagement of the can by the bottom edges of said side walls while passing around a corner of a rectangular can, said slots being transversely aligned with each other and constructed and arranged to receive the winding key therein transversely through the side walls and being of a width substantially throughout the length thereof only slightly greater than the diameter of the winding key, said side walls each having a lower edge providing contact with said can in at least four spaced points, two of said points being forwardly and two being rearwardly of the location of said key in said slots and said inclined slot comprising a narrow passageway so that said key will be elevated as the size of the coil wound on said key increases and said key will continuously apply forward and downward pressure to saidwalls to hold the guide firmly against the can throughout the tear strip removing operation regardless of the shape of the can.

6. A guide for use in removing the tear strip from a can with a winding key comprising a pair of spaced substantially parallel side walls, means fixedly joining said side walls in spaced relation to each other and leaving an open bottom between the walls so that said walls may straddle the tear strip, each of said side walls having a forwardly and upwardly inclined elongated slot formed therein extending from a point closely adjacent the bottom edge of said side walls and terminating be tween the ends thereof to facilitate initial engagement of the winding key with the tear strip and to assure continuous engagement of the can by the bottom edges of said side walls while passing around the can, said slots being transversely aligned with each other and constructed and arranged to receive the winding key therein transversely through the side walls andtbeing of a width substantially throughout the length thereof only slightly greater than the diameter of the winding key, said side walls each having a lower edge providing contact with said can both forwardly and rearwardly-of the location of said key in said slots, each of said inclined slots comprising a narrow passageway so that said key will be elevated as the size of the coil wound on said key increases and said key will continuously apply forward and downward pressure to said walls to hold the guide firmly against the can throughout the tear strip remow'ng operation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,024,830 Cook Apr. 30, 1912 2,542,116 Bulger Feb. 20, 1951 2,572,820 Schluter Oct. 23, 1951 2,612,287 Snook Sept. 30, 1952 2,660,331 Inman Nov. 24, 1953 

